1. Please give us a brief story of who you are and what you do.
I'm a
24 year old illustrator originally from the small coastal town of Jeffreys Bay,
although I've been living and studying in Port Elizabeth for the past 4 years.
I majored in printmaking and illustration at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University, and now that I’ve graduated I'm all set to move to Cape Town in
March to work as a freelance Illustrator. I'd love to eventually write and
illustrate my own series of children’s books and exhibit internationally.
2. Can you describe the world you escape to
when putting together your artwork?
I’m
inspired by the myths, folklores and fairytales we encounter as children, and I
am also inspired by childhood itself. My own childhood took a pretty
adventurous turn when my parents took me out of school to sail around the world.
Being exposed to so many different cultures, environments and unique
experiences at such a young age made the world seem like a very mysterious and
magical place where just about anything could happen. I often find this
sentiment echoed in the environments depicted in my illustrations- a whispered
world that floats somewhere between reality and make-believe.
3. Who is this little girl who seems to be the main subject of
your
Current works?
As much
as I don’t want to say it’s me, because it sounds so narcissistic... it’s
probably me. My illustrations are definitely a form of self-expression. I find that many of our experiences are indescribable, because so
much of what we perceive is intangible. As many
myths do, my illustrations are explorations of the ambiguities and contradictions
of human existence. They are a way for me to give form to the ineffable
emotions and personal experiences I encounter. Because I use visual metaphors
to relate these feelings and experiences, I suppose I draw young female
characters as representations of myself in these personal mythologies.
 |
| Thunder In Our Hearts |
4. You seem to enjoy mixed media, what is
your favourite medium to work in?
The
mediums I use most are pen and watercolour. I really enjoy good old pen on
paper drawing, and love getting lost in the detail of fine, clean lines, but there’s
not much room for error. Watercolour and inks allow for a lot more freedom, as
they require less control, so the combination of the two work well for me. I’m
also attracted to the ghostly appearance of emboss, and I've recently started
experimenting with painting on glass in conjunction with pen and paper
illustration. I'm also really keen to play around with ceramics this year after
making my first porcelain character- there is something very satisfying about seeing
your character come to life in a 3-dimentional form.
5. Where was your first exhibition and
which artwork was the first to sell?
My
first exhibition was in 2009 at the EPSAC gallery (now artEC) in Port
Elizabeth. I sold an etching for next to nothing but thankfully I’ve learned a
thing or two since then. Nevertheless I was pretty psyched at the time!
6. Can you take us through the message behind your work titled
“In the face of Adversity?
‘In the Face of Adversity’ illustrates a
metaphorical encounter with an insurmountable problem. The subject matter deals
with an intangible human experience and incorporates symbolism in order to convey
meaning. The mountains represent
resilience, dominance and a refusal to yield, and the bison echoes the same
immovable qualities. However, the bison’s expression is benevolent instead of
threatening, which leads the viewer to question who represents adversity to
whom. The work is an observation of the relationship between humans and animals
and carries an environmental message that points to the threat that mankind
poses for the animal kingdom.
7. Finally, how are you feeling about being part of the young
guns to show case at Design indaba.?
I’m
super excited! I feel so privileged to be a part of the Emerging Creatives
program, and really look forward to the experience! It couldn’t have come at a
better time since I am relocating to Cape Town, which has also been awarded the
title of the Design Capital for 2014. It’s no secret that the art world is a
tough nut to crack in terms of forging a career for yourself, but I could not
have asked for a better launch pad than Design Indaba.
Feel free to check out more of her beautiful work .
Words by: Lethabo Ngakane
Follow me on twtter: @Lambisking
Instagram: @lambisking
Tumblr: Its-lambisking.tumbler.com
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